OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
NOVEMBER 16, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
LIFESTYLE
HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OC Downtown Association’s annual Light Up Downtown winter festivities, Saturday – Page 25
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More light, less money for stretch on Coastal Council narrowly OKs conversion to LEDs
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Nov. 16, 2018) The Ocean City Council had one of its more illuminating discussions Tuesday, when it agreed to spend an additional $13,000 a year to convert 88 lights along a 20-block stretch of Coastal Highway to LED lamps. The 4-3 vote to make the switch along the course of the highway’s median fence revolved around a safety-versus-expense debate. Last year, when the State Highway Administration installed median fencing on the
highway between Convention Center Drive and Route 90, the project included installing twin mast pole LED lighting. City Engineer Terry McGean said the previous lighting was provided by 250-watt high pressure sodium bulbs mounted on Delmarva Power utility poles. “We pay a fixed rate … and in exchange Delmarva Power installs and maintains the lights and we pay for the power,” he said. McGean said the existing 88 lights along that stretch cost the town about $44,000 annually, while the total package of LEDs would cost See HIGHWAY Page 8
JOSH DAVIS/OCEAN CITY TODAY
VETERAN’S DAY The Joint Color Guard perform the Posting of Colors during a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines, last Sunday. The Guard includes members from the American Legion Post #123 (Berlin), Post #166 (Ocean City), Post #231 (Berlin) and Post #237 (Hebron).
Martin back as council pres. Gehrig backs James and then has his say
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Nov. 16, 2018) Ocean City Councilman John Gehrig thought it was time the old guard in local government gave way to new leadership last Thursday, when he nominated Councilman Matt James for council president at the council’s post-election organizational session at City Hall. But when he attempted to affect that change, he ran into the decades-old practice of the pre-session vote round-up for council president that resulted in Councilman Lloyd Martin’s return to the post he has held since 2012.
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
Ocean City Councilman Mark Paddack, with his son, Thomas, takes the oath of office to begin his first term.
James, who was elected to his second four-year term last Tuesday, was again the top vote-getter by far in the contest. Newcomer Mark Paddack, a retired police officer,
came in second in the race for three council seats, while Martin’s reelection came by virtue of a four-vote margin over first-time candidate Emily Nock. “I think the voters have clearly spoken … with Matt James getting 70 percent of the vote or more in each of his elections,” Gehrig said, in nominating James for the job. His motion was seconded by Paddack, who also seconded Councilman Dennis Dare’s counter-motion in favor of Martin. Suspecting that Martin’s return to local government’s most powerful position had been pre-determined, Gehrig protested. “This should all be done See GEHRIG Page 59
After six years, Koda sniffs out retirement
GREG ELLISON/OCEAN CITY TODAY
K-9 Officer Koda retires after six years working for the Ocean City Police Department. Koda received a retirement recognition on Tuesday.
By Morgan Pilz Staff Writer (Nov. 16, 2018) The Ocean City Police Department celebrated the retirement of one of its veteran officers on Tuesday at the still vital age of 50 … in human years. Otherwise, the retiree honored at the City Council’s work session this week was Koda, a 7year-old German Shepherd from Slovakia who joined the OCPD K-9 Unit with his partner, Cpl. Michael Kelly, in February 2012. “Koda was responsiSee OCPD’S Page 9